DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2017
For many years I carried a secret fear that people would find out that my family and I had once been homeless. The rejection I had felt when I was homeless was very painful, and I did not want to feel that pain again. My children would beg for their school friends to come over and play. But I would refuse, explaining to them that one of the parents might have seen us while we were living in the car or remember me standing outside holding a sign that asked for food.
Fear crippled me, rendering me helpless. I wanted a normal life and friendships with other people, but I was too fearful that my secret would come out. One day in church, as I sat in the last row so I could get in and out fast and not have to talk to anyone, a man went forward to tell his story about abusing alcohol and other drugs. He told the congregation that Jesus had saved him and turned his life around.
I realized that it must have been scary for this man to tell his story, but with Jesus by his side he had the courage to do it. As I listened to him say, “I am not here alone; Jesus is with me,” my own fear seemed to melt away. Two weeks later, I told my own story to the congregation. Instead of being rejected or seeing people turn away from me, I found the love and acceptance of God’s family.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
Dear Father, thank you for always being with us, for giving us a faith stronger than any fears. Amen.
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Isaiah 41:9 I have taken you from the ends of the earth,
summoned you from its most distant parts
and said to you, ‘You are my servant’ —
I have chosen you, not rejected you.
10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you;
don’t be distressed, for I am your God.
I give you strength, I give you help,
I support you with my victorious right hand.
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Faith in God can overcome all fear.
Families who are homeless
The Upper Room®
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Header Photo Credit: "Harvested Land," Beth Shumate. August 15, 2014. (link)
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